Mars lander finds salty environment in taste test
June 27, 2008 By ALICIA CHANG , AP Science Writer
This photo released by NASA shows four Wet Chemistry Laboratory units, part of the microscopy, electrochemistry and conductivity analyzer, instrument on board the Phoenix Mars Lander on Aug. 4, 2007, before the Phoenix was launched into space. The Phoenix lander's first taste test of soil near Mars' north pole reveals a briny environment similar to what can be found in backyards on Earth, scientists said Thursday. (AP Photo/NASA/JPL/CalTECH/University of Arizona)
(AP) -- The Phoenix lander's first taste test of soil near Mars' north pole reveals a briny environment similar to what can be found in backyards on Earth, scientists said Thursday.
Content from The Associated Press expires 15 days after original publication date. For more information about The Associated Press, please visit www.ap.org .
Similar stories from PHYSorg:
Report: Images from Mars lander show liquid water
Mar 11, 2009 |
3.3 / 5 (9) |
2
Phoenix Scrapes to Icy Soil in Wonderland
Jun 30, 2008 |
4.1 / 5 (7) |
1
Many characteristics of Mars, including ice, are similar to Earth
Jul 02, 2009 |
4.5 / 5 (4) |
2
Analysis Begins on Deepest Martian Soil Sample
Sep 02, 2008 |
4.5 / 5 (6) |
0
Phoenix Lander Prepares for Microscopy, Wet Chemistry on Mars
Jun 24, 2008 |
3.7 / 5 (7) |
1



Isn't salt the product af acid reacting with alcalines? How, then does 'salty' describe soil that according to the article is predominantly alcaline? The article doesn't even point out the actual presence of salt, although the components (various metals and chloride are certainly there, so why does the author attribute salty to mars soil?
Salty is a very general term, basically what they mean is that when they dissolved the sample in water they detected following ions: Na plus, Mg 2plus , K plus and Cl- (cant put plus sign here apparently).
Those ions when dehydrated will form salts: NaCl, KCl, MgCl2.
Should it be "martian" or "marsian"? wonder wonder....
Microscope is a good way to start and from what Ive read they have one on board.
And as for NASA - a front to what? I don't think they are a front I think they are just another publicly funded agency that lacks innovation and a clearly defined goal.